Categories: uncategorized
Date: 17 August 2007 08:09:12
Benjamin Disraeli was a wise man when he said their were lies, damned lies and statistics. This is certainly true in education.
Therefore, I believe that a health warning should be attached to this useful analysis of results on the BBC (particularly as the source(s) of the statistics isn't quoted). Whilst I believe that they do give a broadly accurate picture of the results students got yesterday it would be useful to know how they have been collated.
What a bigger health warning should be given to is the way these statistics will be used and misused in coming days and months. Politicians and journalists in particular will manipulate this information in a way which suits them.
Don't get me wrong, I find statistics useful in my work & believe that they do have a use in setting standards and giving signposts as to how I should be performing. I admit I do quite like that brief, fuzzy feeling of satisfaction in my stomach when I look at some of the data and realise that myself and my colleagues have done better than the overall national average in some courses. However, I also understand how they can lead to broad statements, generalisations and public perceptions which fail to appreciate the finer details behind the statistics. The consequences of this can be (i) unrealistic expectations, particularly amongst students with lower entry qualifications, (ii) a feeling of failiure amongst students with lower grades who have still worked hard and earned a qualification and (iii) demotivation and stress amongst staff who have achieved good value added with students but haven't quite met the benchmarks contained in these statistics.
Therefore, when you read your newspaper or go playing with the statistics on the BBC site please bear in mind there are lies, damned lies and statistics.